Avast

[EvanDavis]

I use Avast as me AV on my laptop, an Asus G73swe. This morning I got a pop up from Avast saying there was an update, so I clicked it and the update started. When it were done it said I needed to restart my machine. So I did so. But then on restart I get POST, then boot scrteen, then logon screen, and once I type my password all I get is a black screen with the cursor.
Windows 7 Ultimate BTW

 

[bootneck02]

Oh dear sound serious, I am no expert I think I would boot in safe mode with internet connection and get rid of Avast and download Kaspersky free server based scan here is a link www.kaspersky.co.uk/virusscanner and then if and when re download MS Security Essentials direct from Microsoft Web site.

 

[EvanDavis]

I ran Trend Micro Housecall and Malwarebytes in Safemode, and no nasties at all, I think I might just bite the bullet and reformat unless anybody else has a suggestion.

 

[muckshifter]

Win7 can do a repair, even better if you used the excellent backup/restore of Win7 pro & ultimate.

If you can get to the desktop, insert the Win7 DVD, if not, Boot to the Win7 DVD

 

[EvanDavis]

Win7 can do a repair, even better if you used the excellent backup/restore of Win7 pro & ultimate.

If you can get to the desktop, insert the Win7 DVD, if not, Boot to the Win7 DVD

Sorted, I stuck me disk in and followed a few prompts and job done. Ta Mucks

 

[TriplexDread]

Did you contact avast aswell?

Ask them about the issue?

 

[floppybootstomp]

Aye, to say this was unusual, and with such a quick remedy, was, uh... not common.

 

[EvanDavis]

Aye, to say this was unusual, and with such a quick remedy, was, uh... not common.

Aye, very unusual, maybe the problem was not even related to Avast. Just a coinsidence/

 

[bootneck02]

And another one bites the dust

 

[itsme]

It is the Avast update had the same problem myself> booted from CD/DVD rom and did a repair when finished the avast was disabled by windows> uninstalled avast and installed AVG> PC runing fine now

 

[V_R]

lol AVG

 

[Abarbarian]

No problems with fully updated Avast here, running on Windows 7 64 bit.

 

[EvanDavis]

lol AVG

Filth I tell ya

 

[Quadophile]

I have been using Antivir for as long as I remember for my Windows partition.

 

[itsme]

lol AVG

Better than Avast untill they sort the problem withit init?

 

[floppybootstomp]

He has a point...

 

[nivrip]

I used Avast for a number of years and never had any problems with updates (or anything else).

 

[muckshifter]

Better than Avast untill they sort the problem withit init?

err, nope, it isn't, unless it be the paid for version.

Frying pan & Fire springs to my mind.

 

[floppybootstomp]

I'm puzzled, what's best:

a) Use Avast and watch happily as your computer freezes and crashes.
b) Use AVG and know that even if your AV protection is not the best at least it's stable

Just use Antivir (ads) or Microsoft Security Essentials (Microsoft but hey....)

I've said this before but people who go on about how superior their choice of AV software is - how do they know? Why not admit like I do that you just don't know what the hell works best and just take a gamble?

The 'what's best' factor changes daily, hourly, even, depending on how up to date an AV software's database is, it's as simple as that.

So who do we listen to? You've got three choices - scan the web, bookmark all sites that do multi-testing of AV software regularly and then try to work out for yourself the discrepancies between them all.

Listen to your mate down the pub, which is roughly - but not entirely - aligned to listening to members here.

Get yourself a machine with a fresh OS installed then do your damndest to contract a virus with all of your AV software choices and see which does the best. Even better snag yourself a dozen or so new viruses from in the wild and see how they fare against different software.

The last method is probably the best although of course as databases shift the results could change within a twelve hour period.

How NOT to judge AV software is by declaring 'I've been using *whatever* for x amount of years now and I've never had a problem, I like the look of the software and it updates regularly'.

Go on everybody, carry on using what you think is best but the truth is none of them are 100% and to adopt this aurra of one-upmanship over choice of AV software is bordering on pathetic imo.

And of course always scan for malware using something like Malwarebytes and using a firewall's a pretty good idea as well.

FWIW since around '96 I've used, mainly: Nortons; Antivir; MSE and I have Avast on my media machine atm. And they're all rubbish!

 

[muckshifter]

there are no 'best AVs' out there, it is a matter of opinion, I should have made that a little clearer ... but it is a concensis (sic?) that a few are better left to their own devices, I include AVG free in that.

use what you will, I do.